Never Saw It Coming

Keisha Ceylon strolled into the local café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling her nostrils. Her bright red hair cascaded down her back, and her bright blue eyes scanned the room, locking onto her next mark. Or so she called them – her ‘clients.’ She had a reputation to uphold as Keisha, the most prominent and reliable psychic in town. Or at least, that’s what she wanted people to believe. In reality, Keisha's real gift wasn't predicting the future or reading minds; it was separating desperate families from their hard-earned cash. She played on their fears, their hopes, and their desperation, all the while pretending to see into the unknown. Today was no different. She spotted a family sitting in the corner, visibly shaken. A mother, the father, and two children. Keisha knew they needed her – they needed a solution to the puzzle that was Ellie Garfield's disappearance. The mother had been in tears, explaining how Ellie had vanished into thin air five days ago, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and a family torn apart. The father, Wendell, seemed equally distraught, though Keisha detected a hint of unease lurking beneath his surface. Keisha approached them, a gentle smile spreading across her face. "Hello, dear family. I couldn’t help but overhear your story. I'm Keisha, a... a medium." She extended her hand, and they shook it hesitantly. She knew the drill; she would offer them comfort, guidance, and a solution – for a price. Wendell, in particular, seemed hesitant. "What makes you think you can help us find Ellie?" he asked gruffly. Keisha sensed an undercurrent of defensiveness, and it only piqued her interest. "Ah, Wendell, the connections between us are stronger than you think. Sometimes, the universe whispers secrets in our ears. And sometimes, it's a sign." She winked. "Would you like to hear a message, Wendell?" Melissa, the young daughter, looked up at her father, and his hesitation was palpable. The mother, however, grasped Keisha's hands, eyes pleading for a glimmer of hope. Keisha saw an opportunity to exploit their pain, to weave a web of deceit around their broken lives. She closed her eyes, faking a deep breath, and pretended to tap into her mystical connections. As she spoke, weaving a tale of spiritual connections and omens, Keisha observed the family's reactions. They were torn between skepticism and desire – their emotions hung in balance. She knew she had them. Wendell, the father, was intrigued by Keisha's words; Melissa's eyes sparkled with hope, and her mother was convinced, almost desperate, for a glimmer of hope. As the conversation continued, Keisha skillfully probed into their lives, extracting information that would serve as a thread to unravel their family's dark secrets. She sensed a tension between Wendell and his daughter, a distance that seemed to have grown exponentially since Ellie's disappearance. Their relationship was a powder keg waiting to ignite. And that was all Keisha needed to know. She would weave this web of deceit further, manipulating their emotions to feed her own desires. The money would come, but the real prize would be the secrets they held. The Garfields' family dynamics would be her playground, and she would orchestrate their downfall, one carefully placed whisper at a time. As she parted ways with the family, a subtle smile crept onto her face. The game had begun, and Keisha Ceylon was about to become entangled in the dark secrets of the Garfield family. Little did they know, she had only just begun to see the real truth – a truth that would shake them to their core.